London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Spending a night in London is always a treat. But staying at the Cavendish in Jermyn street -  the gentlemen’s street – right behind Fortnum and Mason is, mmmh, royal. What a luxury to just cross the street to fill up on the most fantastic teas, sweets, elegant biscuit boxes and the most amazing collection of marmalades you have ever seen. You could then have a macaron at Laduree in the Burlington Arcade and its gorgeous boutiques. And you still would be 2 minutes from the hotel. Priceless. You are at the heart of the capital. Piccadilly and Regent street are 5mn away, Hyde Park 15mn walk. Less time in traffic, more time for you to enjoy the city.

The hotel offers many lounges to have a chat, an afternoon tea, a cocktail or just relax. There also is an amazing art collection, including some pieces of Diego Riviera’s paintings, a piano, rich flower arrangements.

And, in the cocoon atmosphere of the room, you will suddenly feel like kicking off your heels, make yourself a coffee form the Nespresso machine, pile the mountain of cushions high and leaf through the magazines on the side. Heaven. Or maybe run a bath, try the selection of fragrant Taylor of Bond Street products and wrap yourself in the fluffy towels warm from the electric holder. All this in lovely toffee colours, wooden notes, pure lines and large windows pouring natural light in.

Get up and you will realise there is no need for this huge plasma screen. From the fourth floor, London seems all yours -  you can see so much of it! BT Tower, the City, the London Eye, Westminster… An extraordinary postcard. Even on a greyish day, the contrast of the clouds with the bronze roofs is just fascinating. A very privileged view indeed.

Just imagine breakfast in your room, still in your robe, steaming cup of tea in hand. Eggs with an hollandaise sauce or English breakfast, fresh fruit juice, croissants, a card with the quote of the day, the morning papers. What a dream, right?

Verdict: Fabulous. Very friendly and helpful staff, elegant rooms, extra-comfortable bed and the best location you can dream of. One of those hotels you can go to with your eyes closed, knowing everything will be perfect… Take the time to try their restaurant, the Petrichor, who prepare British seasonal product deliciously.

The Cavendish London
81 Jermyn Street
London SW1 6JF

Pssst!

Love vintage style? You will fall for Abilu Creations. The designer, Abigail Lucy Bruford, collects the most amazing charms and makes them come alive under her skilled fingers. All jewels are hand-made, a richness of small details that will hypnotise you for hours. Impossible not to play with those and you will be asked a hundred times a day about them by complete strangers. A little nostalgic, very poetic and a touch of rock’n'roll too!

Abilu Creations

When in search for the perfect restaurant, hotels rarely spring to mind. And yet, they offer a much quieter and enjoyable atmosphere than the Soho or Covent Garden ones where they will be so much buzz and coming and going it is hardly comfortable. My latest discovery is the Petrichor on the first floor of The Cavendish. You are in the most famous gentlemen street after Saville Row – Jermyn Street – and the windows overlook Fortnum and Mason. Decoration is in sober and cheerful reds and gold, a few lines here, tables with a mirror effect, flowers here and there, cushions on the banquettes. Even on a busy night with soft music in the background, there was no need to raise my voice to be heard. After a day rushing all over town, this is so soothing indeed. I arrived at dusk, when candles get lit, bringing a lovely romantic atmosphere.

My waitress proved adorable -  butterflying form one table to another, checking on everyone, explaining the focus on British products, the ingredients of a sauce, sharing a few words on London, making the experience friendly and personal rather than just a service. Seeing that I was still absorbed in the menu, she gently placed a selection of bread on the table: very meridional, one with black olives, another enhanced with dried tomatoes, both gorgeous with the creamy butter.

The week-end was starting and this just called for celebration -  a glass of Cuatra Rayas Verdejo “Vinedos Centenarios” was in order. Rich but crispy, a touch of lime and green apple on the tip of the tongue, a longer grassy note, a little bit of fennel on the finish. Gorgeous wine for an apéritif but also for salads and fish dishes. This on oysters must simply be glorious. Bonus points for adding organic, fairtrade, bio-dynamic choices on the list, as well as three British selections (yes! British wine, too long ignored has improved so much in the last few years it is coming back on the map) from Chapel Down.

Another pleasant touch -  mineral water is from Blenheim Palace rather than the French or Italian usual choices. It proves as refreshing, slightly sweeter and adds a royal touch to the experience. The story says that Henry II pleased his mistress by adding a pleasure pool, fed by an ancient spring which never went dry…

The starter was an ode to spring: perfect asparagus (a must in this season), slightly crunchy still. Cured ham, very fragrant, almost floral, so very tender, the kind you want to fold in a flower shape and take to picnics with you, perfect with the peppery rocket salad. On the side,  a port wine reduction, beautiful fruity and complex notes. And a wonderful discovery – raise your hand if you already knew this – Cornish Yarg cheese. This creation by Lynher Dairies is wrapped in nettle leaves when ageing, adding a very unique and delicate flavour, soft and hard at the same time. Another version exists, wrapped in wild garlic leaves. Have a look at their website, as beautiful as their cheese is good. Convinced, intrigued? You can order it online or simply stop at Paxton and Whitfield, in the same street, to buy some.Mains offer Welsh lamb, organic chicken from Devon, Irish beef fillet… and trout from Wiltshire which won my heart straight away. The flesh is so less oily than salmon and so more refined too. Cooked with its skin, each forkful was deliciously crunchy on top. The fish was served on a bed of Anna potatoes (thin creamy and melt-in-the mouth slices) with a bunch of samphire (splendid with the trout), glazed carrots and a beautiful herb sauce. Divine.

In the list of desserts, one particularly caught my eye – the chocolate and elderflower mousse. Now, these two flavours, separate, I can picture. I have seen chocolate with basil, ginger, lavender, jasmine, rose, wasabi even but this is very unusual. Curiosity wins. The ganache is particularly unctuous, rich, velvety, wraps the inside of the cheeks. This is topped by an elderflower jelly, thus giving two textures. Very surprising, they match perfectly yet remain very distinct on the tongue. And so you study the alliance, spoonful after spoonful and realise you have finished the plate. remains the buttery shortbread (just like I like them, pure indulgence) topped with popping candy: a fireworks finish.


With this, try the Rioja Crianza, Castillo di Clavijo which alternates juicy cherries and cacao notes. Rich in tannin, give it a few minutes to breathe and open up. A ruby coloured jewel wine. Very glamorous on the lips too.

Verdict? One of those London hidden gems that needs to be shouted about. Ideal to catch up with friends, romantic dinners, bring parents-in-law (I defy them to find anything to criticize). The menu adapts easily to all gourmets: creativity, top-quality products with a few surprises, classics mastered to perfection. A great address to discover British flavours in refined environment. I am very curious to see their menu evolving with the seasons.

Petrichor
The Cavendish
81 Jermyn Street
London SW1 6JF

Pssst!
20% off total Petrichor bill when ordering from a la carte when booking through Facebook.

Delicious by DS5. A must see/taste pop-up. From May 16 to May 20, Citroën and Chef Tim Anderson (BBC Masterchef winner in 2011) team up for a delicious multi-sensorial experience. On the menu? 5 extraordinary dishes, each dedicated to one of our 5 senses. All this for £5 per person, the money going to the Fareshare charity. Wow. Trendy, top quality food and so much more fun than a restaurant.

Follow me. I joined one of the previews last week, presented by Tim Anderson. We discovered the recipes between two creations… and now are incredibly curious about the three remaining ones!

The first one is all about sight -  making it a visually striking dish. On the side, the beef was cooked sous vide, then rubbed in belachan – a concentrated shrimp paste – then seared. In a  separate pan, blanched romanesco is mixed with a delicious cashew butter while a Thermomix blends the most umptuous mash, made with blue cheese and shiitake mushrooms. The last touch? A sauce using stock, a rich Merlot, fragrant coffee and plum juice. Amazing. Tender. Unusual flavours. Velvety on the palate. The best compliment probably was the silence around the table, noone wanted to waste on words, way too delicious.

Time for dessert. A masterpiece. First, create a ganache infused with spices – star anise, drum tobacco,, liquorice, cinnamon, black pepper. In an iced glass were placed pealed grapes then the cream. Add a square of grape jelly, a spoonfull of tobacco and syrah mousse and syphon a touch of port and rosewater foam. Then , the genius touch: a smoke gun to infuse this with a lapsang-like flavour. Served in sealed pots, it is like having a little cloud of your own… Very intriguing as tastes are enhanced and totally transformed, making you want ot smoke everything in your kitche, just because you can.

Lunch concluded on a bunch of roses. Smoking too, thanks to dry ice and Syrah fragrances. Floral and poetic -  can you imagine this in an evening atmosphere?

We could not resist testing the new Citroën, the DS5. Officially to go on a scavenger hunt and pick up essential ingredients for the recipe, of course. Very futuristic, smooth driving, an amazing collection of options (leather seats, first class sat-nav, heated leather seats, even a massage program for the driver… Oh and even a SOS button. We ALL wanted to press it, so very James Bon like!) *envy sigh*

Seduced? Mouth watering? Fancy a fabulous meal for the best price ever while helping a good cause? You have only seen two of the dishes -  another three remain to discover:
* Touch – playing with textures with a lacquered duck skin, thin like glass, crunchy in the mouth, rich in butter. Velvet too with duck pâté in a dark chocolate shell. And duck jerky reminding of jasmine and souchong.
* Sight – 5 varieties of beetroot, including my favourite, the golden one for a most striking plate. In the beetroot, a heart of goat’s cheese and wasabi.
* Sound – this one will get you hooked. A bacon lollipop in bacon candy and Szechuan pepper. Caramelised, spiced and so, so much fun!

500 tickets will be available: just enter your details on the Citroën Facebook pace. The lucky winners will receive a confirmation email between May the 07th and May 09th.

It is bluebells time, blue waves swimming under the trees, magical sights indeed. For London, go to the Osterley house and enjoy the most poetic walk. Looking for more ideas for the week-end? Scroll down!

That’s art baby:
* Visit a unique architect house. Thursday night, the National Trust offers a late opening there.

* The Cutty Sark reopens to the public -  a good excuse to have a stroll in Greenwich!

* Have you been looking for the 7 noses of Soho but never found them all? (Maddening, I know). Well, this walk will take you around them all.

Yummy-time:
* Hoorray – a fabulous bake off hits Brixton market on Saturday.

* Have your dose of espresso at the Coffee festival.

* Love Meatliquor? So do we. We’re dying to try Fattburger too – has anyone been?

* For a magical night of whisky, chocolate, pop-up dining and theatrical experience, click here.

Out of the ordinary:
* Pssst! On Thursday evening, it is shopping night at Seven Dials. Get 20% off here.

* You could also try a very zen flashmob at The Scoop.

* On Saturday, take your bike and enjoy the roads closed to cars. Why so? To push the mayors-to-be to take the two-wheels more in account.

* Discover the stories behind the neighbourhood names of London.

Probably the best market in London. Start with the Hackney Homemade food market then walk down to the Broadway Market, a mere 15mn from there. A whole street turned festive with foodie treats but also vintage and craft stalls and even music. Oh and colours, cheerfulness, the feeling of being on holiday. Forget your diet: between seafood assortment, rainbow fudge, Jewish, vegan, indian specialties, fabulous cheese, delicious desserts you will switch constantly from savoury to sweet, sour to creamy, with no will to resist at all. What an amazing diversity here, all lined with cafés, restaurants, independant boutiques. On a sunny day, you could stay the whole afternoon. You can also walk down to the canal or get a Boris’ bike there.

Broadway market
Every Saturday on Broadway street, London E8, 09.00-17.00

Seeing this installation in the Fortnum & Mason’s windows, I immediately thought of Postcrossing. In a world where we all tweet faster than our shadow, this excellent website put postcard, pens and stamps back on the table. Set up your free account and you will get the address of a total stranger, a few lines describing their hobbies. Write a kinf note a little hello, good wishes for the day, a quote. Some time later, you will in turn receive a card from another total stranger. So much nicer than ads and bills when going back home…

St George’s day:
* Not to be missed on Saturday. For St George’s day, Trafalgar Square turns into a garden for an afternoon. Bandstand and 3D effect included.

Big screen:
* A movie? Yes, but with style at One Aldwych, martini included!

* Or see Hitchcock classics in London churches.

* Try Bugsy Malone at the Troxy. Not just the movie, the setting and the atmosphere. A fantastic experience.

Take the little ones along:
* On Saturday, ride on a vintage bus.

* Meccano fans, feel like a child again at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum.

Out of the ordinary:
* Have lunch at the Hackney homemade food market.

* At the Horse Hospital, play with the strange and the occult.

* Go for a romantic walk.

* A new exhibition space is opening in Covent Garden, dedicated to movie stars. Amazing iconic pictures -  a must see.

* To celebrate record store day, independant shops are planning free concerts and nice workshops. Have a look here.

A stroll through Chelsea. Gaze at the modern art in the Saatchi Gallery, tip your hat to the famous pensioners,  admire the blooms at the Physics Garden, dine on lobster. Then walk along the Thames towards the end of the afternoon to cross the Albert Bridge, recently renovated. Originally a toll bridge, it was quickly nicknamed the trembling lady, shaking under the weight of too many travelers. Even military troops were asked to break step when marching over it.

The structure has since been reinforced and is safe for even cars to use. It has kept this amazing Victorian elegance, pastel colours, fairy-tale like. Very romantic. The best time to cross definitely is at dusk. On the other side is Battersea Park and by the time you have reached the Peace Pagoda, the sky will be painted bright apricot and fushia colours, the architecture looking like delicate lace against it. Retarce your steps to see its 4000 lights being switched on – hypnotising. Three magical atmospheres in a an hour. Unforgettable. Probably my favourite sight in London.

Fashion is fascinated by vintage. From iconic dresses to teacups -  you just cannot escape it.  And yet, unlike a high street item, finding the one you are after may take a little bit of hunting. Where to go? Brick Lane is the place to start but if you are looking for a specific era or a less trendy object, you are suddenly out of your comfort zone. The Seconhand and Vintage London book will save you quite some time. Whether you are after a 1930ies jacket, a Motown collector disk, amazing china or 1970ies furniture -  it has it all with even interviews of shop owners to learn all the fun anecdotes. A section is dedicated to car boot sales, auctions and charity shops worth following, another list all the names on a map, per neighbourhood. Brilliant.

And so you will see London from a different angle – a detout via a reconverted Edwardian picturehouse, another to have a look at a collection of accordions, maybe get yourself glasses worthy of Elton John or even a shop sign…

Seconhand and vintage London, £8.95

Stepping in La maison des roses is a pure enchantment.  Halfway between Cath Kidston and a beautiful storybook. Florist, the adorable Levine? Atmosphere magician would be more appropriate. Each gesture is graceful, her presence soft, soothing. She just puts a smile on your face, you see, even without even saying a word. You could watch her for hours – such a skill in bringing colours together, placing a leaf, a branch, a petal. A flower whisperer. Around her, a universe in pastel and candy colours, the fragrance of  old fashioned roses. Bouquets have a Japanese touch to them, the balance, the movement of spring branches with tiny blooms, an extraordinary palette of hues, admirable silk flowers too, each detail counts. The boutique also organises workshops and oh – how enjoyable this must be, learning about the compositions, chat around a cup of tea in that sweet atmosphere. Children are welcome too: such a lovely idea for a birthday party, each child bringing back his own arrangement home, delighted with his or her new skills. Magical. It is particularly difficult to leave -  a little haven from the outside world Thankfully – especially if you do not live in London -  you can find them online and enjoy those amazing roses (but also perfumed candles, adorable thank you card with buttons and ribbons…) in your own home.

La Maison des Roses
48 Webb’s Road
Clapham
London SW11 6SF
A mere 10mn walk from Clapham Junction station